TWO HANDS

TWO HANDS


Dear Brian,
Hi, how are you? My name’s Adam. Adam Hallinger. Um, to be honest I don’t really know why I answered your advertisement in the paper. Out of boredom I guess. We don’t really do much else around here. It’s funny, the paper’s and magazines we’re delivered are probably the most exciting occurrence of the week. I don’t actually think there ever has been a pen pal column in one, so don’t be surprised if you suddenly become inundated with all these letters from a bunch of rowdy, deranged psychopaths. Haha, not that I’m much better. I won’t blame you if you don’t reply; I’m not that skilled at this letter writing stuff. Although I suppose I’d better tell you a bit about myself before you make your mind up on that.

In truth there isn’t that much to say about me. I’m 18; I don’t really have any family or friends; um, I live in a bit of a strange place, I presume you could call it a joint house for a lot of people like me. There isn’t that much else to tell really. The only aspect of me that may seem remotely interesting is that I like to write, mostly poems, but I don’t know if you would be greatly interested in that. Tell me a little about yourself. As I said, it’s the only entertainment I receive around here.

Adam.
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Dear Adam,
Thank you for your letter. You were the first person to actually reply to my advertisement. I received a few other letters from a couple of, well, ‘interesting’ people. One was from a man who had apparently served 40 years in a dingy Argentine jail and was covered with 63 black and red snake tattoos. Another was from a woman with 3 children and a failing marriage; and the other was from some teenage girl in Syria looking for a husband. Don’t ask me how I got that one. What can I say, it was amusing nonetheless. In fact, yours seemed the only one sane enough to reply to. God knows it’s a good distraction from everything else that’s going on, with looking after the farm and going to university. I can’t really complain though, it’s a good busy. I live with my mum, dad and little brother on our farm. We have just about every farm animal you could name living here. I’m actually looking for a house for myself at the moment, somewhere closer to uni. I’m currently completing a Bachelor of Behavioural Science. It’s extremely interesting. Have you gone to university or TAFE?

You said that you wrote poems? I would actually love to have a look at some of those if you didn’t mind. I’d find it very fascinating and it would help me with my studies. Also, what’s this ‘joint house’ you live in? Is it like a shelter or a dorm?

Write back soon.

Brian.
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Hi Brian,
How are you? Thank you for replying. I can’t believe you did actually. It’s great, I haven’t had this sort of friendly contact for quite a while.

About the poems, I don’t usually reveal them to anyone, but I’m sure I could let you have a look at a couple. Especially if it will help with your studies. It would be especially interesting to see what your opinion was of them.

I don’t know if this is going to freak you out or not, but I actually live at West Heights Clinic. As in the mental clinic. I’m not going to tell you why I’m in here. You don’t need to know that. I won’t blame you if you don’t write back. If I were you I seriously don’t think I would. Especially if you really knew me. Trust me, you don’t want to.

Adam
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Adam,
Wow, West Heights huh? That’s a bit of a shock. I don’t mean to press, but honestly, what did you do to end up there? Must’ve been pretty bad mate.

Brian.
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Never mind how I got here. You don’t want to know. Don’t bring it up again.

Adam.
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Adam,
Come on. I don’t really care if it’s good or bad, I just want to know. It’s intriguing.

Brian.
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Brian,
I’m serious, do not bring this up again. It’s none of your business. Let’s move onto something else. How was your week?

Adam.
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I know what you did Adam. Haha, you’re never going to live it down. You resent every little scratch you made on him. But you’ve done it now. Can’t change it. Can’t reverse it.
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Fuck off. You don’t know what you’re on about. Don’t talk to me again.

Adam.
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Aww, poor Adam. Was that a bit too harsh? Well you’re going to have to live with it. You’ve had to live with what you did. You can’t escape it now. You can’t just forget about it Adam. IT WON’T GET THE FUCK OUT OF YOUR HEAD. Hahahahaha.
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I swear to god Brian, shut the fuck up.
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Everyone knows. Everyone knows how you did it. How you gently dragged the blade across his supple, lily white skin. How you so meticulously carved each little design into his writhing, squirming, SCREAMING body. Hahaha. How you watched his blue black veins drain dry, before you gave him a quick drop and a short stop. Everyone knows Adam.
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STOP IT.
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Your own brother. How could you Adam? With your own two hands... So little, so innocent. Don’t you remember his eyes? His immense beautiful blue eyes, pleading, just BEGGING to be saved?
STOP IT BRIAN, LEAVE ME ALONE. GET OUT OF MY HEAD.
Hahahahahaha.
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THEY WERE YOUR HANDS BRIAN, YOUR OWN FUCKING HANDS.
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No, no, no, dear Adam. They were YOURS. You’re pathetic, disgusting. Just end it Adam, END IT.
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Good bye.
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DAILY TIMES

SUICIDE AT CLINIC

Narrelle Carols

Last night a body was found inside West Heights Mental Clinic. The deceased was 18 year old Brian Slade, a patient at the facility. Police report the apparent cause off death was suicide, as there were multiple blows to the frontal lobe of the victim’s head; as well as blood splatter and hand prints on the wall. This indicated that the 18 year old bludgeoned himself to death against the wall.

Detectives uncovered several strange letters addressed to himself and an unknown Adam Hallinger in his quarters at the clinic. The seemingly peculiar thing about these letters were the ones written by himself actually detail him as living outside the institution; whilst his pen pal ‘Adam’ resided at the clinic. No record of an Adam Hallinger was found at West Heights; and police have no further leads as to who this mystery character is.

“Even after his admittance to the clinic and several rehab sessions, Brian showed no sign of improvement, and if anything became more withdrawn and isolated. His suicide is extremely sad, but not a great shock,” commented Jackie O’Shea, manager of the Blue Ward at West Heights.

Brian Slade was convicted of murdering his younger brother a year ago, but was pronounced mentally ill, and sentenced to a 6 year term at West Heights Clinic.